Porter Turns Down Raiders

Despite a lucrative five-year offer from the Raiders, wide receiver Jerry Porter said he expects to enter the free-agent market after a series of perceived slights that have soured him on returning to Oakland.

"I owe it to myself to look. The free-agent market is out there,'' said Porter, still miffed that the Raiders did not offer to extend his six-year rookie contract during the 2004 season, before he decided to exercise a void of the final year of the deal. "I don't know how much longer I'm going to play. I could get a career-threatening injury and be out of football in no time.

"I owe it to myself to get my market value, if not (sign with) some team that will pay me more than market value. I owe it to myself to find out (what I can get).''

As it stands, Porter's market value is about $20 million over five years, the total of the contract offer the Raiders made last month to their leading wide receiver.

The deal, sources said, is similar to the five-year, $25 million extension signed last year by Bengals wideout Chad Johnson, a two-time Pro Bowler who finished sixth in the NFL last season with 95 catches for 1,274 yards and nine touchdowns.

Johnson, who signed his extension prior to the 2004 season, received $12 million in guaranteed money.

Porter, 27, ranked 12th in the NFL last season in receiving touchdowns with nine, and finished with 64 catches for 998 yards, all career highs. After a slow start -- Porter caught only one touchdown in the Raiders' first six games -- the fifth-year veteran blossomed.

I always had questions about this kid........He looked like he could be a star for a while, then he dissapered in the Black Hole and toward the end of this season looked pretty good again. Maybe he will develop better if he didn't have 3 QB's throwing to him over the course of the season. Well, better mark out Tampa Bay then............